Use of nitric oxide-releasing agents for reducing metastasis risk

Abstract

A method for inhibiting the adherence between cancerous cells and noncancerous structures in a mammal, comprising the administration to the mammal of a nitric oxide-releasing compound containing a nitric oxide-releasing N 2 O 2 - functional group. The compound is capable of releasing an adherence-inhibiting effective amount of nitric oxide to the mammal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for inhibiting the adherence between cancerous and noncancerous cells in a mammal in need thereof, comprising the administration to said mammal of a nitric oxide-releasing compound containing a nitric oxide-releasing N 2  O 2   -   functional group and having the formula: ##STR16## wherein R 1  and R 2  are independently chosen from C 1-12  straight chain alkyl, C 1-12  alkoxy or acyloxy substituted straight chain alkyl, C 2-12  hydroxy or halo substituted straight chain alkyl, C 3-12  branched chain alkyl, C 3-12  hydroxy, halo, alkoxy, or acyloxy substituted branched chain alkyl, C 3-12  straight chain olefinic and C 3-12  branched chain olefinic which are unsubstituted or substituted with hydroxy, alkoxy, acyloxy, halo or benzyl, or R 1  and R 2  together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heterocyclic group, and R 3  is a group selected from C 1-12  straight chain and C 3-12  branched chain alkyl which are unsubstituted or substituted by hydroxy, halo, acyloxy or alkoxy, C 2-12  straight chain or C 2-12  branched chain olefinic which are unsubstituted or substituted by halo, alkoxy, acyloxy or hydroxy, C 1-12  unsubstituted or substituted acyl, sulfonyl and carboxamido; or R 3  is a group of the formula --(CH 2 ) n  --ON═N(O)NR 1  R 2 , wherein n is an integer of 2-8, and R 1  and R 2  are as defined above, said compound being capable of releasing an adherence-inhibiting effective amount of nitric oxide to said mammal. 
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein R 1  and R 2  together with the nitrogen atom to which they are bonded form a heterocyclic group selected from the group consisting of pyrrolidino, piperidino, piperazino, and morpholino. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein said cancerous cells in said mammal are potentially metastatic. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2, wherein the heterocyclic group is pyrrolidino and R 3  is vinyl.